Poilievre’s Superpower: he doesn’t care what “we” think of him
From today's edition of The Toronto Star
If you read my last piece in The Toronto Star, thank you. I’m sure that it shocked a few folks to see Tamara Lich reposting something from The Star’s Opinion page. Fortunately, this Twitter user’s prediction didn’t come to pass — I wasn’t fired over it: ;-)
Although Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre almost scooped me in his recent Vancouver Board of Trade speech when he provided his audience some insight into how he views Corporate Lobbyists, I’m hoping that this week’s column will help Star readers better appreciate the politician who is the odds-on favourite to win the next election. Don’t get me wrong; a preference for spending time with farmers or welders, rather than bank CEOs, doesn’t imply a lack of interest in fixing what ails Canada. I understand that if Mr. Poilievre wants to learn more about a topic, he might spend two hours on the telephone with a renowned academic or industry expert in an effort to deeply understand a subject matter that he’s been wrestling with.
This is a good omen. Details matter!
I’ve posted the first half of my column below; if you want to see how it ends, you have the choice of buying today’s hardcopy, signing up for the $65 (pre-tax rebate) annual digital subscription via the newspaper website, or accessing the piece via your Apple News App.
If you’re waiting for Pierre Poilievre to start acting like a “Prime Minister in-waiting,” you’ve not been paying attention. While Poilievre is more John Diefenbaker than Stephen Harper, this is not your Father’s Progressive Conservative Party.
Politics traditionally draws the type of person who cares deeply about what others think of them. That’s only natural. To get elected, you need to be more popular than everyone else on the ballot. With almost 18 months under his belt as Conservative leader, it’s becoming clear that Poilievre has a certain Superpower that sets him aside from most of his predecessors, whether they be Liberal or Conservative: he doesn’t care what “we” think of him.
That’s not to suggest that Poilievre isn’t hustling for votes. His daily tour schedule presents grueling evidence of a tireless campaigner who thrives when speaking to a room of working-class families, farmers or New Canadians.
That the guy is wired differently presents a unique challenge for the Liberals as they prepare for the 2025 campaign. How do you attack someone who doesn’t care how the alleged “Elites” view him?
Poilievre’s lack of interest in what “we” think of him is on full display in his daily media scrums. Having – correctly – determined that the Press Gallery will never be his allies, Canadians are getting accustomed to Poilievre’s anti-charm offensive when responding to media questions. There’s nothing new about Conservative leaders believing that most journalists have an agenda, but Poilievre’s playfully combative tone demonstrates that he sees no utility in trying to earn the media’s respect. This self-awareness is a far cry from most of his predecessors, who held out at least some vain hope that they could eventually win over the Fourth Estate.
You can read the rest of the column here….
MRM
(note: this post is an Opinion Piece)
There will be all kinds of people bemoaning the "death" of "moderate Conservatives", folks who will wax poetic about past leaders who they swear were so much better. It's worth noting that all of them had an opportunity to vote for Erin O'Toole in September 2021. Most didn't. What they are really saying is, "I wish the Conservative leader was more like the Liberals I prefer to vote for." This is a lot like the West Wing, whose liberal writers created a GOP Presidential candidate of their dreams in Alan Alda. You'll note that they still had him lose anyway...
Interesting piece. I whole heartedly agree that, on the surface Pierre doesn’t care. But like his role model to the south, I think it’s safe to say that deep down he does care.
I’m also far from convinced they is what Canada, or any nation for that matter needs. We develop filters as humans to ensure that society functions in a civilised manner. Saying what we want without considering its consequences is a key element to a civil discourse on a daily basis.
Pierre’s outright contempt for (some of) the media, is not playful. They may not like him, but they have a job to do and that is to inform us. And his contempt is only directed at those HE considers bought and paid for (which I think you would agree is not true). He doesn’t bash the conservative friendly Globe or the Star or the Sun and regularly reposts those articles flattering to him. Attempting to discredit certain media outlets in an attempt to reduce the impact of critics is a tactic used by DJT. I think that speaks more about the character of the man than it does the quality of the journalist.
If he really didn’t care, if he really had skin that tough, he would answer the questions and not care about the article. I think the fact that refuses the question when it isn’t flattering to him says he does care and only wants approval.
Canada has a right to know where he stands. What his real policies are. Not what three word catch phrase his comms team came up with this week. So answer the question. Unless an informed electorate scares him.
I admit, I am biased. I don’t care for the man. We would not be friends. We would never have a beer. He will not get my vote. But at my core I am a conservative, a Progressive Conservative. I was a member until 18 months ago. I voted for Jean Charest. I do believe that right of centre fiscal policies support a wealth of social policies. But I am also a firm believer in moderation. A leader that hugs the centre - Mulroney, Clinton, Chretien/Martin - leads to a well balanced and thriving country. I fundamentally believe that far right politics can do far more damage to a country than can far left (neither is good, one is worse). This is the reason I cannot vote for him. I have voted for politicians I could not stand before. Because despite the person, the policies made sense. I can’t say the same for the current iteration of the Conservative Party.